Why wait for time to run out?

I work with people who seek help when transitioning onto a new path in their life, be it career or personal.

Therefore, I am always curious as to why many people take action only when they are faced with a seemingly impossible situation in order to follow their dreams. Some go on to become inspirational in the face of adversity, scattering their legacy through books and charitable works as an example to us all.

So, why do we wait for time to run out before we act? We must accept that “Time waits for no man”, an expression so ancient, it predates modern English. We are also being inspired every day through countless media sources to remember this. But how does change make us feel? Afraid, uncertain and out of control, maybe? These feelings are not pleasant to experience, particularly when we can hear that familiar voice in our head undermining our confidence. What are we afraid of? Is it because we could fail or that we don’t believe we are good enough, or could it be a concern for other people’s opinions of our so-called harebrained ideas? Achieving greater success than we feel confident enough to handle can also be something that actually restricts our progress.

Why does all this matter to us? It has something to do with the fact that our core beliefs are laid down in early childhood and they determine what we believe to be true. As a result, it can affect our performance and behaviour in very limiting ways. We can carry so much mental clutter that it literally sabotages our efforts and there is no wonder we don’t manage to achieve at times. Try this simple imagination exercise. Think of your workspace right now. Is it cluttered or clear? If it is cluttered, how does the physical clutter make you feel? Can you find everything easily and quickly? Being surrounded by clutter may actually give you a sense of control as you are the only person who knows where everything is, but let’s be honest, physical clutter does not help you, or others, to stay on top of the priorities. Security truly is an illusion, which can change as readily as it is given. Becoming more organised will allow you to react more effectively. I liken it to having to live out of a suitcase when I am travelling. I only pack what I need for a short trip so I have fewer decisions to make about what to wear and do and this enables me to be more productive with my time. Clearing emotional clutter works in exactly the same way. It leaves a metaphorical blank space to allow new and better things to come in and broaden our opportunities, together with the freedom to think about our passions and to achieve what we set our heart on.

Okay, so we have faced our fears and organized our emotional clutter. How empowered should that make us feel? We now have the freedom to think and act, together with a new and focused energy to seize the moment for what it offers. It is not unlike the carefree and eager anticipation we felt as children and the memory that when we were engaged, everything flowed. Taking the time to stop, think and reflect before life changing decisions makes things much easier to see and understand. This newfound clarity makes us feel more powerful and the knowledge that we can take control of our dreams by setting goals to achieve them. It becomes easier to identify our strengths and the patterns we run when we do things we are really good at. As a result, it enables us to consider ways in which we can overlay these strategies effectively onto the new challenges we face. This relieves pressure and stress, making us nicer people to be around.

I admit that this is not always easy to achieve unsupported, but anything is possible if you want it badly enough. Life coaching is a gift for this situation because it gives you the space to think. This is the reason why it has become a very important and respected addition in the corporate world for it supports the process of transition perfectly. It is an incredibly powerful force and can be used effectively in so many ways to unlock potential, realise life ambitions and organise your life effectively.

Each and every one of us is different on so many levels. In the words of Stephen Hawking, “There should be no boundaries to human endeavour…however bad life may seem, there is always something you can do, and succeed at. While there's life, there is hope.” So I invite you to embrace your dreams and be open to the opportunities that are constantly being presented to you. Remember, when you are engaged in the moment, rewards will naturally flow. An added bonus is that you will feel happier, more focused, productive and fulfilled. Life will continually move forward, whether you like it or not. There is nothing you can do to stop it. So, what are you waiting for? Start taking the first of many small steps to make things happen today!

Alison has spent over 20 years working in both corporate and small business environments within the IT, Financial Services and Retail sectors and has a skill set that ranges from HR management (MCIPD), Sales and Operational Support to Interior Design. As a result, she positively embraces change and it is therefore no surprise that her niche area is transition coaching. She now works as a business coach and has delivered over 100 coaching sessions to support people through challenging life changes, all with positive results.

Follow Alison on @alisontrimbee

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